Over every fortress of tyranny has waved, and still waves, the banner of the Church.
The Church has won no victories for the rights of man.
We have advanced in spite of religious zeal, ignorance, and opposition.
Luther labored to reform the Church—Voltaire, to reform men.
There have been, and still are, too many men who own themselves—too much thought, too much knowledge for the Church to grasp again the sword of power. The Church must abdicate. For the Eg-lon of superstition Science has a message from Truth.
It is a blessed thing that in every age some one has had individuality enough and courage enough to stand by his own convictions,—some one who had the grandeur to say his say. I believe it was Magellan who said. "The Church says the earth is flat; but I have seen its shadow on the moon, and I have more confidence even in a shadow than in the Church." "On the prow of his ship were disobedience, defiance, scorn, and success.
INGERSOLL'S ORATION AT HIS BROTHER'S GRAVE
A Tribute to Ebon C. Ingersoll, by his Brother
Robert—The Record of a Generous Life Runs
Like a Vine Around the Memory of our
Dead, and Every Sweet, Unselfish
Act is Now a Perfumed Flower.
Dear Friends: I am going to do that which the dead oft promised he would do for me.